One political pooch down, one to go

It appears that President-elect Barack Obama’s children weren’t the only ones promised a pup after the presidential election.

Brown family/Associated Press

While everyone (from dog whisperers and celebrities to psychologists and allergists) has been busy debating the “what kind,” “from where” and “what ifs” of the Obama family’s dog-to-be, Vice President Elect Joe Biden has quietly made his own canine choice: a three-month-old male German Shepherd puppy.

According to an article in Chester County’s Daily Local News, Biden recently purchased the dog from breeder Linda Brown of East Coventry Township, Pennsylvania. Brown describes her shepherds as “family dogs” who are “very good with children.” American Kennel Club Registration Statistics rank the German Shepherd as the third most popular dog in the United States. Following Rin Tin Tin’s 1922 debut in the Warner Brothers film Man From Hell’s River, the German Shepherd became the most popular breed between 1925 and 1928.

Of her meeting with Biden, Brown says, “He was very gracious…He hugged and kissed all of the shepherds.” His visit was preceded by seven black sport utility vehicles with Secret Service agents along with a car with Biden’s brother Jim and his family.

Mark Tobin, who owns and operates a police K-9 camp and is also a personal dog trainer, has agreed to pick up the young shepherd this week to begin a six-week training course that will include housebreaking. Tobin is scheduled to deliver the newly schooled pup to the Biden family in January, following the inauguration (about the same time the Obamas are expected to bring home their much-gossiped-about pooch).

Biden has promised to let his granddaughters name the puppy. Help them out by sharing your own suggestions here.